BRITISH ARMAMENTS

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1936, Page 2

BRITISH ARMAMENTS

Labour Support 3 TO 1 VOTE AT CONFERENCE. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, October 6. “I am going to speak bluntly. Bri tain in 1931 tras secure. in a military, naval, and air sense. To-day, that f-ecurity is, gone. If a Labour Government were in power to-morrow, it would be compei'led to proceed to increase British armament^" said Do ton Dalton, M.P.. in moving a reso.uton in support of increas ng British armaments at the Labour Party conference at Edinburgh. The motion opened a lively debate. The mover proceeded to, ray that treaty-breaking had become a daily Fascist halt, Jhe Government had a c.iusad ; ng respin sibility for what had happened. Tl.<‘ s'y evasions of Sr .1. Simon, the prim pretences of Sir S. Hoare. the foeblnmiabilitv of Mr Eden, the lazy aM of leadership of Mr Ba'dwu. and the senile vanity of Mr MacDonald. ’•*<! contributed 'to the plight of Bnta n and the world. After criticising the present Gov ,ernment k Dr. Dalton raid the trine had come when Britain xnunt. tell Ffis cist States: “There i.s a limit. So fa” and no further,” but she must a n'ay: “Comq join us, and state you grievances.” Mr Arthur Henderson, seconding the motion, ra-’d that Me raw mat er 'als of the world mirit be poo cd. Lot Straholgi said the time had mum when tho democratic Socialist I*™ o ' must be armed “for mutual support. “I don’t want -a Labour Governmei to be weak, open to bullying, blac»mailmg. and threats from Fasc'st Powers.” Mr Gt Lansbury opposed the motion, and said that armaments could not save the world. Even the d'e.tator<hip nations mum be brought to a round table and led along the road M peace; Mr Dukes, said Me d ctator nations should be told that if they wanted a decision by the sword, we would not flinch. Mr Attlee, winding up the debate denned that the mot.rnn committed tn.' Labour Party to the Government s rearmament policy. Labour would eon tinne bo criticise the armaments pro gramme and decline, to give a briar..; cheque. That did not mean they rain no arms (would be required. Collects c ;, ecur : ty must bo backed wth suffice ent force to deal with an aggressor “We arc. not prepared to be. conquer ed by Fascism, ether from without or within.” Tho card vote resulted: For the mo (ion. 1,738.000; against. 657,000.